Product intro and specs
Are you sick of throwing batteries away in the trash? Introducing the WOTOFO nexPOD, a new “hybrid” vape that’s both a pod vape and a disposable. In other words, it’s a prefilled pod vape. But, the nexPOD has a substantial eliquid capacity of up to 10 mL compared to old, prefilled pod vapes that held as little as 1.8 mL. The nexPOD should be the best of both worlds.
Regardless of its classification, the nexPOD vapes like a modern disposable. It is a box-style device that takes magnetized bullet-style pods and comes with a 650 mAh rechargeable battery. WOTOFO sent over the nexPOD Stick as well, which is a tube-shaped battery that's compatible with the pods. Lastly, the pods come in 18 different flavors with an option for 20 mg/mL and 50 mg/mL nicotine salt.
But is it any good? Let’s see about that.
Price: $24.99-$199 (at WOTOFO)
Flavors: Sakura milk, strawberry lush, three melons, watermelon lychee strawberry cone, strawberry yogurt, mango gummy, pina colada, mango pear, mango yogurt ice, strawberry mango, caramel tobacco, mint, tropical ice, monster ice, forest berries, purple razz ice, grape apple
- Battery capacity: 650 mAh
- Charging port: Type-C
- Short circuit protection
- Overcharge protection
- Low voltage protection
- Water-resistant POD slot
- 1 x Pod
Kit options
The nexPOD is sold in three kits:
Basic kit: one device and one pod ($24.99)
Essential kit: a display/travel box, a device, 12 flavors, and a lanyard ($149)
All-inclusive kit: a display/travel box, all 18 flavors, two devices, and a lanyard. ($199)
Size, look, and feel
As mentioned, the nexPOD is a box-style battery that looks like an old Eleaf Pico. Having tested the nexPOD Stick as well, I lean toward the look and feel of the box, but I prefer to vape with the tube battery (see the “how does it hit” section to see why).
The pods are magnetized bullet-style drop-in pods that are cylindrical and shaded black. I can’t tell if these are polyfill cartomizer types or something else. Unfortunately, you can’t see your juice levels, which leads me to believe that these are basically cartomizers.
The pods are convenient and easy to use, but the magnets are not very strong. That said, I didn’t have much of a problem with it being too loose except for the times when I’ve dropped the device, which caused the pod to pop out.
As for the look of the device, the nexPOD is very understated. Basically, just a black anodized aluminum vape device. I’m not a fan of bright colors on vapes normally, but the nexPOD looks more like an OEM device than one you’d see in a vape shop.
Getting started
The nexPOD comes in two parts, but it’s still as easy as a disposable to operate. The only difference is that you must drop a pod in.
The device will come out of the packaging charged and ready to vape. The nexPOD is draw-activated, which means there are no buttons to press. Just remove the tape and plugs from the pods before inserting them in the battery, then take a draw. The device will produce vapor once it senses you taking a pull.
Note: the device has adjustable airflow. There’s a little switch on the bottom of the device that makes the draw looser or tighter to suit your needs.
How does it hit?
Vaping on the nexPOD and the nexPOD Stick back-to-back reveals a difference in the hit. Firstly, the box-style battery has adjustable airflow, while the tube battery doesn’t. Interestingly, the airflow on the box-style battery can’t be adjusted to match the default draw of the tube battery.
The tube battery has more of a loose MTL, whereas the box device goes from tight to super tight. For more than a couple of reasons, I expected the box to have more airflow, but that’s not the case. Generally, I want a tight MTL draw, but the box battery’s tight draw isn’t as smooth as I’d want. The airflow feels a bit choppy and obstructed. Everything is smooth and easy with the tube battery airflow.
WOTOFO nexPOD best flavors
I received 12 flavors (I got the Essential kit). Unfortunately, I don’t care for most of these flavors. All but two of them (Monster and Mango yogurt) are bland and hard to identify. If I don’t read the label on the pods that identify the flavors, I can hardly make out which is which.
This is where I usually write miniature reviews on my favorite five flavors. There aren’t five that I like, though, nor could I write about them if I tried. But I do love Mango yogurt! It tastes like sweet mangos with a nice contrasting creaminess and a hint of sourness. It’s easily the standout flavor. Monster, which is meant to taste like the energy drink, does taste just like it. If you like that taste, you’ll enjoy that flavor from WOTOFO.
How long do they last?
The battery is 650 mAh and I can get a day of vaping before the vape starts to get weak. The charge takes about an hour, but there’s no pass-thru charging.
The pods last a good while before they start to taste dry. The pods I have (I believe) are filled with 10 mL. Even if you vape a lot, one of these pods could last you about two days before you’d need to toss it.
Pros / Cons
Gallery
Verdict
This is a tough one. I really like using the nexPOD Stick with the Mango yogurt prefilled pod. It’s just as enjoyable as any vape I would leave the house with. However, for there to be 12 flavors that came in my kit, I was disappointed that only a couple were satisfying—especially considering the price tag of the kits. The kit I was sent for this review retails at $149. If I paid for this kit, I’d be less than happy with the quality of the flavors.
Overall, I think the nexPOD hardware is what is the best part of the kit. WOTOFO did well with that. If only the flavors were as good, I’d be able to give it a solid recommendation with no caveats. As of now, the best I can say is that it’s a good device with lackluster flavors except for mango yogurt. If you like the idea of its functionality, I’d recommend the device, but only with Mango yogurt. If mango yogurt is not your cup of tea, I hope Monster is.
The nexPOD gets a lukewarm recommendation because the flavors aren’t good to me. Maybe one day, WOTOFO could make refillable nexPODs—just an idea.
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